Hem gauging device



Nov. 26, 1957 L. A. GOODMAN 2,814,116

HEM GAUGING DEVICE 1 -'Filed Feb. 9, 1956 INVENTORL' 1 LYLE A; Goon/MAMATTOENE Y5.

United States Patent HEM GAUGING DEVICE Lyle A. Goodman, Detroit, Mich.

Application February 9, 1956, Serial No. 564,526

4 Claims. (Cl. 33-2) This invention relates to a device for use informing folds of predetermined widths at the edges of flexible materialssuch as cloth.

The invention is especially adapted for use in the sewing and tailoringarts for providing hems, cufls, pleats, and the like. A hem, forexample, is often formed by progressively folding the edge of a materialupon itself to a predetermined width, temporarily tacking the foldedlayers together as the folding progresses and then permanently stitchingthe folded layers together.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive devicefacilitating rapid, convenient and accurate forming of hems of selectedwidths.

The invention generally contemplates a flat gauge or card having astraight edge over which a hem may be folded and a tacking port whichopens through an edge of the card so that it can be removed after thehem has been tacked. The card has graduations to facilitate forming hemsof various widths, One form of the invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a hem gauge according to thisinvention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the hem gauge in use. I

The hem gauge shown in the drawings comprises a substantially fiat,preferably rectangular body 12 of a form retaining material such assheet metal, cardboard or a plastic. The gauge has a straight edge 14and a port 16 extending preferably perpendicularly thereto. Port 16preferably opens at the middle of straight edge 14 and extends to aninner end 18 preferably somewhat beyond the center of body 12 for areason to be described. Port 16 may have a peripheral reinforcing bead20 as shown.

Body 12 is provided with a plurality of gauge lines 22, 24 and 26extending parallel to straight edge 14 and being spaced apart bypredetermined distances such as at inch intervals. The gauge lines arepreferably formed by protrusions on the face of body 12 and forconvenience may be numbered as illustrated according to their distancesfrom straight edge 14. Edge 28 of the body opposite from straight edge14 may he graduated as in inches as illustrated.

As to use of gauge 10, it may be assumed that a hem 30 two inches wideis to be formed at one edge of a piece of cloth 32. The gauge is placedflatly on cloth 32 generally adjacent one edge. The edge portion of thecloth, which is to form hem 30, is folded over straight edge 14 of thegauge. The gauge and material are manipulated so that edge 34 of the hemis aligned with gauge line 24, which is two inches from straight edge14, and with the straight edge engaged snugly in fold 36 of the hem.

A pin 38 or the like is then passed through the layers of cloth flankingport 16 in the gauge. The gauge may then be .withdrawn from the hem bylifting it upwardly as Fig. 3 is viewed so that pin 38 and the tackedportions of the hem pass through the opening of port 16 at straight edge14. The gauge is then moved a desired distance along the edge of cloth32 and the process is repeated. Hem 30 may thus be formed accurately,conveniently and rapidly progressively along an edge of cloth 32.

To form hems of different widths, edge 34 is positioned at or betweendiiferent gauge lines 22-26. Port 16 preferably extends well into body12 as described so that tacking pins 38 may be applied relatively nearto the top of broader hems, such as four-inch hems. Gauge lines 2226protrude from the face of the gauge body to facilitate positioning edge34 of the hem by sense of touch. The graduations at upper edge 28 of thegauge facilitate spacing pins 38 evenly.

I claim:

1. A hem gauging device comprising: a generally fiat body, said bodyhaving a generally straight edge around which flexible material such ascloth may be folded, said body having a port therein, said port having awidth dimension of such an extent that a pin or the like may beconveniently manipulated therein for tacking engagement with folds ofmaterial on opposite sides of said body, said port being elongate in adirection generally transverse to said straight edge, means on said bodyforming a plurality of gauge lines substantially parallel to saidstraight edge and extending generally from one end of said body to theother, said gauge lines being spaced from each other by predetermineddistances, whereby hems having selective predetermined widths can beturned over said straight edge and tacked together, said port openingthrough said straight edge so that said device can be removed frombetween the folds of material after they have been tacked together.

2. A hem gauging device comprising: a generally flat rectangular body,said body having a generally straight edge around which flexiblematerial such as cloth may be folded, said body having a port therein,said port having a width dimension of such an extent that a pin or thelike may be conveniently manipulated therein for tacking engagement withfolds of material on opposite sides of said body, said port beingelongate in a direction generally perpendicular to said straight edge,means on said body forming a plurality of gauge lines substantiallyparallel to said straight edge and extending generally from one end ofsaid body to the other, said gauge lines being spaced from each other bypredetermined distances, whereby hems having selective predeterminedwidths can be turned over said straight edge and tacked together,saidport extending from at least the center portion of said body to saidstraight edge and opening at generally the middle portion of saidstraight edge, so that said device can be removed from between the foldsof material after they have been tacked together.

3. The hem gauging device defined in claim 2 wherein said means formingsaid gauge lines comprise protrusions on said flat body to facilitatepositioning the edge of a hem by sense of touch.

4. A hem gauging device comprising: a generally flat body, said bodyhaving a generally straight edge around which flexible material such ascloth may be folded, said body having a port therein, said port having awidth dimension of such an extent that a pin or the like may beconveniently manipulated therein for tacking engagement with folds ofmaterial on opposite sides of said body, said port extending in adirection generally transverse to said straight edge, means on said bodyforming a plurality of gauge lines substantially parallel to saidstraight edge, said gauge lines being spaced from each w 3 5 other bypredetermined distances, whereby hems having selective preterminedwidths can be turned over said straight edge and tacked together, saidport opening through said straight edge so that said device can berehave been tacked together.

4 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,560,417 Dreschler Nov. 3, 1925 2,558,966 Lane July 3, 1951 2,711,587Branman June 28, 1955 2,741,851 Berardinelli Apr. 17, 1956

